2024 Toyota Prius

Pros: Excellent fuel economy; cool looks; optional all-wheel drive; quick for a hybrid; good interior storage Cons: Small cargo area; gauges may be hard to see; tech can frustrate; top trims awfully pricey The 2024 Toyota Prius is the second model year for the latest Prius generation and we still haven’t gotten over just how radically different and better it is. It all starts with the looks: Not only is its design vastly superior to its predecessor, one of the ugliest cars ever made, it’s legitimately cool. The interior is also far more conventional in terms of design and functionality, resulting in a car that should be more appealing to those who haven’t spent the last two decades driving Priuses. Basically, the Prius is no longer just about saving gas. You can look good doing it and it won’t leave you making sacrifices (OK, so the cargo area is pretty small). It also drives surprisingly well, with responsive steering, a composed suspension and surprisingly quick acceleration. In fact, the Prius Prime plug-in hybrid made us go “whoa!” when we gunned it from a stop. Of course, the Prius is ultimately more about fuel economy than anything else, and it certainly doesn’t disappoint. EPA estimates sit between 49 and 57 mpg combined depending on trim/drivetrain, which isn’t as big of a difference in terms of gas burnt as it seems. The Prime, meanwhile, can go between 39 and 44 miles depending on trim level on electricity alone before effectively operating like the regular model. Add it all up, and the Prius is back on top in terms of hybrid appeal. Now, there isn’t actually a direct competitor (at least until the Civic Hybrid arrives for 2025), but the Kia Niro and various hybrid compact SUVs are out there for those OK with sacrificing a few MPGs for more passenger and cargo space. Interior & Technology   |   Passenger & Cargo Space   |   Performance & Fuel Economy What it's like to drive   |   Pricing & Trim Levels   |   Crash Ratings & Safety Features What's new for 2024? After the radical overhaul last year, changes are 2024 verge on inconsequential. There’s a new lock/unlock chime! A new Integrated Streaming feature lets your stream your Apple Music or Amazon Music playlists through the infotainment system! And the price has gone up across the board by $200! OK, so that’s let’s exciting. What are the Prius interior and in-car technology like? Those coming from a previous Prius generation are bound to find things have moved around a bit inside: The shifter is now on the center console and the gauges are directly in front of the driver. For those coming from any other car, you’ll find the new Prius agreeably normal. That goes for both functionality and appearance, but in terms of the latter, it’s an attractive design that doesn’t lose itself to its tech elements. Materials quality is better than the last Prius and is above-average for eco-oriented cars in this price range as well. …
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